Door check and closer



* .1. B. RAWLINGS DOOR CHECK AND CLOSER Oct. 26, 1943. 2

Filed June 2, 194::

I Ill 7 III, Ill 1mm will w fa w Patented Oct. 26, 1943 UNITED? STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,332,753 e noon CHECK. 'AND onosm I Rawli ngs, Memphis, 7 Tenn. f h A plication January} 1943, Serial-No. 471,163 J o1. 1e 49 t 15 Claims.

The object of the invention is to provide a means whereby a door which is standing aja-r and in the way of another door when the latter is being opened, will be automaticallymoved toward or into closed position by'the door which is being opened, thereby preventing contact of onedoor with the other and consequentlylpreventing damage that would otherwisaresult'to either door and also preventing the usuallatch-knob of one door from getting behindthelatch-knob of the other door and causing the doors to become interlocked with each other.

With the above and other objects in view as will be set forth in the followingdescription, reference will be had to the accompanying drawing forminga part of this specification and in which;

Fig. l is ahorizontal sectional view taken from above;

Fig. 2 is a view in elevation of a conventional butt-hinge in closed position, illustrating one form of check-arm connected thereto;

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatical top plan view of the invention applied to doors in the corner of a room;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a mo of check-arm and connectinglink;

Fig. 5 is a View in elevation and partly in tion of a modified link-head;

Fig. 6 is a similar view of a'modified link;

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary view elevation showing how the device may be applied apart from the door hinge;

Fig. 8 is aview similar to" Fig. 1 of another modification but showing both doors in open posi- Fig; 9 is a perspective "View of the attaching means used in the last mentioned modification; and

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of still another modified form, unmounted.

In the drawing, reference numerals I and 2 designate swinging doors, each mounted by its butt-hinge-leai 3' to a complementary leaf 4; employing the usual pintl'e 5. A conventional knob 6 is provided on the upper end of the pintleand a dummy knob! has the usual stud 8' inserted in the lower barrel-section 9 of one of the leaves. The leaf 3 has two barrelsections Ill interfingering with the three barrel sections 9 of the other leaf4'.

The lower'face of the upper hinge-barrel section 9 and the upper faceof the lower barrel section 9 of the hinge-leaf 4 are filed, or otherwise" cut back to provide spaces between such sections and the adjacent barrel sections Ill, into which spaces the eyes l2-of check arm M; or l5 are inserted. Obviously, the upper face of the upper barrel section Hi and the lower face of the lower barrel section l-ll could be cut back to provide or assist in providing the necessary spaces toreceive the said eyes [2. The 'pintle 5 passes through both eyes l2. The middle hinge-barrel section 9 closely engages the barrel sections ID of the other hinge-leaf to keep the hinge-leaves 3 and 4 in usual normal relation.

' Each'of the check-arms l4 and I5 is bent from wire, or other suitable material, and is of U- shape with the branches l6 preferably parallel to each other, The bridge portion I1 passes axially through sp-aced rotatable rollers l8 which may be ofwood, and if desired may obviously have outer cushioning treads (not shown) or theymay be formed of rubber, compressed felt, or other non-doorrmarring material. Between the rollers N3 of each clieck arm, is a link-head l9 pivota1ly arranged on said bridge portion ll. The end of each head l9 is'of a width less than the diameter of the rollers I8 and its rounded end l9 (see Fig. I) is shaped on a radius less than the radius of each roller l8. This is to prevent rubbing contact of the heads l9 with the doors The two linkheads lll are connected by a link 20, whichf may be ,a section cut from a rod of suitable material, such as from a convention'al wooden dowel-stick, inserted and secured at its ends by glue or by pins 21in bores 22 formed in the heads IS. The length of the link 20 will vary according to how far apart the hinges of, thetwo doors may be spaced from each other and the position itis deg sired-anppened door should occupy before it will begin to be moved toward closed position through the linkage by the opening movement of the other door.

Injoperation, referring to Fig. 1, should, the door 2 be closed as indicated ,by' dotted lines, a. gap of lost-motion will exist between its contact point Xand the right-hand rollers l8. Should the door I then beop enedto a right-angled position, the position of the linkage will have been changed, but the said gap, though diminished, will still ex ist. Now, should the door 2 be swung from closed to open position, thisgap will be first taken up and then-the door 2 will contact with therollers I8 and, as opening'movement of the door 2 continues, the linkage will be pushed to the left and immediately, or eventually, the leit-handrollers l'8 will engage the door I and pu'sh'it toward or into closed position, as'illustrated' in Fig. 1.

Should the door I then be opened, while the parts are in'theFig. 1 position, the door I will 45 which passes through cars 46 (Fig. 9) of a plate 41 which is secured to the door by screws 48. The check-link [5, link and head I9 are the same as in Figs. 1 and 2 and may embody the cushioning features of Figs. 5 and 6 if desired. To the form illustrated in Fig. may also be applied the idea of this modification, by employing only one check-arm and pivotally securing the left-hand end of the link 21 directly to i one of the doorsbya plate similar to the one 41 of Figs. 8-and.'9, or in lieu of this means of attachment, one of the two arms 25 of Fig.4 may be secured directly to check-arms l4. These blocks 25, which are in effect check-arms, are preferably wooden," and. are provided with screw-eyes 26 which function.

and are applied to the hinges in the same man-' ner as the eyes l2 in the first form. In lieu of the dowel-strip links 29, thick ribbon-like links 21, which may also be of wood, are pivotally secured by pivots 28 to the check-arms 25. In this modification, buffer :pads 29 of rubber, felt or other suitable material are applied to the check-arms to prevent abrasion of the door finish at the point of contact.

If desired, as shown in Fig. 5, the check-links 20' may be slidingly fitted into the heads Isa and cushioned by check-springs 33 arranged within the bores 34. Some means, such as a pin 35 and slot 3'6, may be employed to prevent displacement of the check-link from the heads. This cushioning maybe applied to both heads or only to one of them, and any form of resilient cushioning material will sufiice.

In lieu of the cushioning illustrated in Fig. the form shown in Fig. 6 may be employed, though, as is obvious, both the forms shown in Figs. 5 and 6 may be used together. The Fig. 6 form contemplates dividing the check-link into two sections 20a and 20b and connecting them by a sleeve 31 containing a spring or other kind of cushioning 38, which is engaged by both linksections 20a and 2%. Displacement of these link-sections is prevented by pin and slot elements 35' and 36' respectively, the samebeing similar to the connections 35 and 36 employed in Fig, 5.

Both forms illustrated inFigs. 5 and 6 provide for spring cushioning, preventing sudden jarring, oflsetting tendency of the linkage to mutilate the finish of the doors, and rendering the contact of the doors with the check-arms virtually noiseless.

, It is not essential that the check-arms be hinged to the door hinges.

the Fig, 4 form this would be more objection able than with theFig. 1 form, since in the latter case the rollersl8 would have rolling contact with the doorsand such rubbing contact and resultant marring of the door finish would.

be avoided.

In the modification illustrated in Fig. 8, one

of thecheck-arms of the preceding forms is omitted and the link 20 has its head l9 directly connected to-one of the doors by a pivot They mamas illus trated in Fig. '7, be hinged by a pintle 40 passing "the door by simply driving a nail or screw through. the arm 25 into the associated door.

In this modified'ideaQthe. link and check-arm positively'follow-up the movement of the door to which the link is attached, and the gap of lost motion referred to in the preferred form 'Ihemodified form. of Fig. ;10 simply consists of check-arms 50,5] which are-connected together by link 52, and haveapertures- 153; through which pintles such as 5 or 40 may pass. The arms 50 and 5! are secured between the barrel sections of the hinge sim'ilarto the mane ner in which the arms l iare secured in Fig. 2. or in a manner similarto that shown in Fig. 7. Obviously the check-arm 50 in this form may be omitted and 'thelink 52. connected directly to. one of the doors by a plate substantially like the exists only between the check-arm and its assoone- 41 shown in Figs. 8 and 9.

What is claimed: l

1 A device of the. character described, com

prising a do'or-engagingmeans; means whereby said means may be hinged adjacent the plane of the hinging axis of a door of a pairofspacedapart swinging doors, each of which doors closes an individual opening; meanspivotally connect.-:

ed to the first mentioned means; and means connected to the last mentioned means to; mount it in a. position wherebyitgwill be movedby; the other of said pair of doors when the latter is being opened, tomove the first mentioned means into engagement with its associated door and thereby move such door. toward closed po- Sition. I "I I j 2. device of the character described, comprising a door-engaging means; means whereby said means may be hinged adjacentthe, plane of the hinging axis of a door of a pair of spaced-3 apart swinging doors, each of which doors closes an individual opening; azlink pivotally con-;. nected to the first mentioned means; and means, for; pivotallyconnecting said link to the other of said pair of; doors whereby opening movement of the latter door will be transmitted through said link to the'first mentioned means to cause such first mentionedcmeans to engage;

its associated door and thereby move it toward closed position.

port; comprising meansadapted to'behingedly secured'to said support'ina position to be en-.

gaged by and to be moved by one doorwhen the said door is being opened; means adapted to be hingedlysecured to said support in'aposition to engage and to move the other door when the latter is ajar; andmeans for. trans-.- fit motion fromonerof said means to. the 0 er. 1 1' 5;;-A- -device or the character described ior use combination dcbrs-which -a1 e"spaced apart and which are hinged" to ascppcrt and which sameness "individual? ope irithe support; ecmpris-ingmeans ted tdbehihged- 1y secured-wears support-1 a-posi'ifion td-be en gaged by an'd iio be moved ty 'cne dcbr when'tlie said door is being opened; means adapted-to be hingedlysecnredtdsaid support in a position to engage and to move the other door when the latter is ajar; and means for transmitting motion from one of said means to the other; said two first mentioned means being spaced apart by the last mentioned means a distance permitting only one thereof to be in engagement with adoor when both doors are fully closed.

5. A device of the character described for use in combination with doors which are spaced apart and which are hinged to a support and which doors close individual openings in the support; comprising means adapted to be hingedly mounted at a point axially in coincidence with the hinging point of one door and in a position to be engaged by and to be moved by said door when said door is being opened; means adapted to be similarly hinged with respect to the other door in a position to move said latter door when it is ajar; and means for transmitting motion from one of said means to the other.

6. A device of the character described for use in combination with doors which are spaced apart and which are hinged to a support and which doors close individual openings in the support; comprising means adapted to be hingedly secured to said support in a position to be engaged by and to be moved by one door when the latter is being opened; means adapted to be hingedly secured to said support in a position to engage and to move the other door when the latter is ajar; both of said means being arranged between the doors and extending outwardly from the support when the doors are well open; and means pivotally connected to both of said means a distance away from their hinging points to impart motion from one of said means to the other.

7. A device of the character described for use in combination with doors which are spaced apart and are mounted to swing on pintle hinges and which doors close individual openings; comprising means adapted to be engaged by and to be moved by one door when the latter is being opened; means adapted to engage and to move the other door if ajar out of door-interfering position; an eye provided on each of said means whereby it may be pivotally mounted by the pintle of the hinge of its associated door; and means for transmitting motion from one of said two first mentioned means to the other.

8. A device of the character described for use in combination with doors which are spaced apart and are mounted to swing on pintle hinges and which doors close individual openings; comprising means adapted to be engaged by and to be moved by one door when the latter is being opened; means adapted to engage and to move the other door if ajar out of door-interfering position; an eye provided on each of said means whereby it may be pivotally mounted by the pintle of the hinge of its associated door; and yielding means connecting together said two first mentioned means whereby motion will be imparted from one to the other.

9; A device of the character described for use in combination with doors which are spaced apart atid wliicli are hinged to? a supportana which doors closeindividual openingstliesupport; comprising means adapted to-be-engagedbyan'd td-i'ae' moved by dnedbor when the latter is bein opened nieans adapted td engage arid to move tli otl'ier "cloo at at out' of door i"rit'erfering' p'oa 'sitib means wherety each of saicl -means may bpthingd adjacentthe plane or the a "is j'dithe 'liinging" point of its associated doom 1 means adapted to have rolling contact with a door provided on each of said two first mentioned means; and means for transmitting motion from one of said two first mentioned means to the other.

10. A device of the character described, comprising two door-engaging means; means whereby one of said means may be hinged adjacent the plane of the hinging point of one of two swinging doors, which doors close individual openings, and the other of said means may be hinged adjacent the plane of the hinging point of the other of said doors; means adapted to have rolling contact with a door provided on each of said door-engaging means; and means connected to each of the door-engaging means for transmitting motion from one thereof to the other; said last mentioned means being prevented from contact with either door by the means which has rolling contact with the doors.

11. A device of the character described, comprising two door-engaging means; means whereby one of said means may be hinged adjacent the plane of the hinging point of one of two swinging doors, which doors close individual openings, and the other of said means may be hinged adjacent the plane of the hinging. point of the other of said doors; a pair of door contacting rollers journaled on each door-engaging means; and a link pivotally connected at each of its ends to door-engaging means and between said rollers; the rollers extending beyond the ends of the link to prevent the ends of the link from contacting the doors.

12. A device of the character described, comprising two substantially U-shaped door-engaging means; eyes on the free ends of said means whereby each may be hingedly secured adjacent the plane of the hinging point of one door of a pair of doors each of which closes an individual opening; a roller on each of said door-engaging means; connecting means having pivotal connection at each of its ends with one of said doorengaging means; each roller extending beyond the connecting means to prevent contact of the connecting means with a door.

13. A device of the character described, com-- prising two door-engaging members, each having spaced-apart arms and a connecting portion; eyes provided on the ends of the arms whereby each door-engaging member may be hingedly secured adjacent the plane of the hinging point of one door of a pair of doors each of which closes an individual opening; a pair of rollers mounted on each of said connecting portions; a link having pivotal connection at each of its ends to one of said connecting portions and at a point between a pair of rollers; the rollers being of a diameter to extend beyond the ends of the link to prevent such ends from engaging the doors.

14. A device of the character described, comprising two door-engaging means; means whereby each of said means may be hinged adjacent the plane of the hinging axis of a door of a pair of spaced-apart swinging doors, each of which doors closes an individual opening; a sectional link pivotally connected at its ends to the doorengaging means; and yielding means connecting the sectionsof the link together to permit reia-e tive movement between said sections. H

- 15. A device of the character described, comprising a pair of arms; a pair of members having 5 stems and eyes, the stems of which are inserted in said arms and the eyes of which provide means wherebyeach arm may be'hinged adjacent theplane of the axis of the hinges of a pair of, spaced-apart doors which close individual openings; and a link pivotally connected at its ends to said arms whereby motion may be transmitted from one arm which may be engaged by a door which is being opened to the other arm to cause it to move the other door 11am out of the way of the door being opened.

JOSEPH R W LINGS. 

